Career changes are even harder for people with multiple sclerosis. These tips can help you find work that fits your life.

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For 12 years, Rick Steinhaus rocked the airwaves of 106.7 Lite FM in New York City as Rick Sommers – a memorable voice in the city that never sleeps.

In the early 1990s, while training for the New York City Marathon, Steinhaus felt a strange numbness and tingling. At first he thought it was the product
of intense training or possibly a pinched nerve, but by 1994, after two separate medical evaluations, he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

“At that time, there was just one medication you could take to slow the disease,” Steinhaus says. He continued working in the fast-paced, high-stress world
of radio and eventually needed treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) exacerbations. “I could see the writing on the wall,” he says. “The world of radio was
changing. I needed to put Plan B into action.”

Steinhaus isn’t alone – many people with multiple sclerosis struggle to balance MS and employment. About one in three adults either don’t work or they attend
school, and close to half say they retired early from their jobs, according to a recent survey.

Steinhaus briefly left the workforce in 2003 to get a master's degree. Looking for a way to combine his MS experience and his love of talking to people,
Steinhaus enrolled in graduate school to study social work with plans to get a job as a counselor for
people with MS and their families. After graduation, he moved through a series of temporary social work positions until he found his way back into the
world of journalism, this time as a recruitment liaison for the union that represents radio and television workers.

Despite the fact that he now uses a cane, Steinhaus still goes to the gym three times a week and stays actively involved with his family and his work
community. “MS has changed the way I look at life,” he says. “Especially in New York City, where there’s so much stress and you’re always behind the
8-ball. I have learned to ease up.”

MS Patients Find New Careers

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society provides numerous online and video resources to help people navigate career changes. They coach patients on how to
discuss MS with employers and offer advice as to working while on paid disability or Social Security. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society has three
certified job counselors nationally and many local communities have resources of their own. States also have vocational rehabilitation programs, although
the options vary by location and funding.

While the thought of switching careers may be difficult to face, it’s important to think about your options as soon as you’ve been diagnosed, says Steven
W. Nissen, MS, CRC, career counselor for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in Washington, D.C.

Here are important issues to consider:

Can you afford to switch careers? If you’re moving into a new field be prepared to accept a smaller salary. Make sure to take into account the time
you’ll need to go back to school or retrain when you might not be bringing in any money.

Do you have portable skills? A switch might be easier if the skills you already have, like Steinhaus's ability to speak easily with large groups of
people, can be used in your new field. When Washington, D.C., resident Karen Knable Jackson realized that her MS was making it impossible to continue
working as a physical trainer, she was able to transition into a position as office manager of an orthopedic surgeon’s office. “I was still able to use my
knowledge of sports medicine,” she says.

Can you build your resume? Look for opportunities locally, such as free courses offered by community colleges or business development groups, to learn
new skills that could enhance your resume.

Can you make accommodations at your current job? Many people dream of leaving their job because MS-related fatigue makes working difficult. But sometimes
a simple accommodation, such as working from home one day a week, could keep you in your current spot.

Dealing with such consequential life changes can be a challenge, and attitude is everything, Jackson says. It’s easy to focus only on what MS makes difficult, she
notes, but that won’t help you figure out what your next career move is going to be. “Focus on what you can do instead of what you can’t,” she adds. “If
you’re thinking of a career transition, you need a plan.”

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